Cutter chain



July 23 1946- L. E. slMMoNs 2,404,540

CUTTER CHAIN `Filed Jan. 13, 1945 lwzzllmmza N, y #www @fifa Patented July 23,r` 1946 CUTTER CHAIN Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 13, 1943, Serial No. 472,281

' 3 Claims.

1 lThis invention relates to cutter chains and more particularly to improvements in a mining machine cutter chain especially designed for use in the Cutting of coal. Y

An object of the present invention is to provide a cutter chain of an improved design. Another object is to provide an improved holding means for securing the cutter bits in cutting position on the chainblocks in an improved manner. Other. objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. I In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing: p Fig. 1 is avfragmentary sideelevational view of a cutter chain constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. Fig.72 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3f3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view partially in longitudinal vertical section and partially in elevation, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. l, showing the improved interlocking connections between the chain blocks and strap links.

Fig, 6 is a detail elevational view, illustrating the manner of detaching the strap links from two adjacent chain blocks.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the improved cutter bit holder. y

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the front bit clamp.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the improved chain block.

Figs. 10 and l1 are perspective views of a pair of cooperating strap links.

In this illustrative embodiment the improved cutter chain generally designated I is of the socalled outside running type, guided for circulation about the margin of a cutter bar generally designated 2 (Fig. 2). The cutter bar may be of the same general design as that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 273,511, filed May 13, 1939, now matured into Patent No. 2,324,033, patented July 13, 1943 and comprises a bar member 3 having a relatively narrow flange 4 to which suitable wear platesk 5 are secured. These wear plates provide guiding surfaces for the cutter chain externally of the cutter bar.

As is shown in the drawing, the cutter chain includes a series of chain blocks 6 pivotally con nected at 1 to strap links k8. The strap links have inwardly directed gibs 9 receivable in the external guideways of the cutter bar, and outwardlydirected trunnions I0 which project within transverse bores II 1n the parallel side portions I2, I2 of the chain blocks. The strap links have out-V wardly directed, rectangular projections I3 midway between their ends and at their outer sides, which are arranged between adjacent chain blocks and which are arcuatelyV notched or grooved at I4 at their opposite sides. The ends of the side portions I2, I 2 of the chain blocks are cut away at I5 to provide relatively narrow arcuate flanges I6 which project within the slots I4 in the strap link projections in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5, when the strap links and blocks are in operative assembled relation. When the chain blocks are swung into a predetermined relation as shown in Fig. 6, the ilanges I6 on the side portions of the blocks move out of interlocking relation with the projection-slots I4 so that the link trunnons I0 may be moved inwardly out of the block bores, thereby to enable ready detachment of the links from the blocks. The structure of the improved interlocking connections between the strap links and chain blocks is being claimed in a continuation-in-part application, Serial No. 504,660, filed October 2, 1943.

In this improved construction each chain block has a lateral lug I8 provided with relatively inclined outer surfaces I9, I9, parallel side surfaces 20, 20 and a longitudinal bore 2I. The lug I8 projects laterally from a surfacey 22 lying in a plane parallel to a longitudinal plane including the axes of the block bores II. A holder 23 is formed with a recess 24 shaped to receive the block lug I8 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and has an integral bolt portion 25 received in the lug bore 2I in the manner shown. A transverse rivet 26 (Fig. 3) passes through alined openings in the block lug I8 and bolt portion 25 and is secured to the holder 23, for rigidly holdingv the holder in position on the chain block against the rear face of the block lug. The holder recess 24 has relatively inclined side walls 2'I engaging the inclined surfaces I9 and parallel side walls 28 engaging the parallel side surfaces I8, I8 of the lug.. Surfaces 29 at the inner sides of the side portions of the holder rest against vthe plane surface 22 of the chain block.

The bit holder is adapted to receive a cutter bit generally designated 30, of a, conventional design and this bit has relatively inclined' cutting faces 3l, 3l lying in the sides of a triangle and terminating in cutting points 32, 32 at the opi posite extremities of the bit at the same side` of the latter.

that the bit is rmly laterally held in-position in.

the holder.

Mounted on the bolt portion 25 of the holder is a front clamp 34 having a projec-' of the holder is threaded at 31 along its forward portion to receive a nut 38 which, when tightened.

adjusts the front clamp 34 into bit clamping po-l sition. The cutter bitrmay be reversed end for end with respect to the holder when one cutting point becomes dull, thereby topresenta sharp point to the work in a Well known mannen Asa result of this invention it will be noted that an improved cutter chain is provided having an improved chain block and strap linkstructure. It Will further benoted that by the provision ofthe improved cutter bit holder structure theycutter bits may be firmly held in position on the chain block lugs. Other advantages of the invention Will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. p v f While there is inV -thisj application specifically described one vform Which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood Vthat this form ofthe same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as nexvanddesire to secure, by`

vLetters, Patent is: Y Y

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a lateral lug provided with a longitudinal bore, aV

bit holder having a recess for receiving said block lug and a bolt portion received in said lug bore, and a transverse securing Aelement passing through openings inthe block lug and holder bolt portion and secured to said'holder for securing the latter to said block lug.

' 2. YIn a cutter chain, a chain block having a lateral lug provided with a longitudinal bore, a

vbit holder having a recess for receiving said block lug and a bolt portion received in said lug bore, said holder recess being shaped to receive a cutter bit, and means associated With said holder-for securing a cutter bit in said recess, said bit securing means including a front clamp on said bolt portion and engaging the inner portion of the active cutting face of the bit and means engagingsaid bolt portion for adjusting said clamp relative to said holder-and rsaid block into bit `clamping position.

v3. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a projecting lug providedwith an outer planey sur'- face and a longitudinal bore, and means for holding a cutter bit in cutting position on said'block With the inner end ofthe bit resting against said plane lug surface comprising a detachable holder attached to said block and having a bit receiving recess and a longitudinal portion received in saidv Vrecess against said plane lug surface, 'saidradjustablev means being positionable tfo permitl release of the bitV from the holder recess While the holder remains attached to said block; and said holder attaching means including a securing ele# ment engaging said holder and saidlugfand` passing through said longitudinal holderportion.

v LEN snvrMoNs. 

